The Campaign Finance Institute is pleased to announce the following new members of its Academic Advisory Board. The distinguished scholars on this board provide invaluable service to CFI as it plans and then works through its research agenda. We look forward to working with new and continuing members and give thanks to those past members rotating off who have given CFI valuable service for many years.

The Baruch College's School of Public Affairs, in collaboration with the Campaign Finance Institute, is pleased to invite you to “Small Donors, Big Democracy: The Impact of Campaign Finance Regulation on Citizen Participation.” The event will be held on Tuesday, September 28, 2010 at 6:00 PM at Baruch College, Newman Vertical Campus, 55 Lexington Avenue (14th floor), New York City. A reception will follow the event.

Herbert E. Alexander (1927-2008) was known during his long career as the “dean” of political finance and election reform studies. For 40 years, he directed the Citizens' Research Foundation, a nonprofit organization devoted exclusively to studying and informing the public about political finance. During his lifetime, Dr. Alexander authored 20 books and more than 375 monographs and articles in which he described and critiqued how politics, in the United States and elsewhere, is financed.

Washington, D.C., April 12, 2010 -- On behalf of the Campaign Finance Institute (CFI) Board of Trustees and staff, it is with deep regret that we note the passing of CFI Board Member Rep. Robert D. (Bob) Franks on April 9, 2010.

The Board of Trustees of the Campaign Finance Institute, chaired by Dr. Anthony Corrado, held its annual winter meeting on Thursday, January 31, 2008. Unanimously, the sixteen trustees agreed to renew their one-year terms on the board for an additional year of service.

The Campaign Finance Institute is pleased to announce the election of Betsey Bayless, Ronald D. Michaelson and Jeanne Olson to the CFI Board of Trustees. The Institute recently embarked on a major new initiative focused on the role of small donors in state as well as national elections. "These distinguished additions to the Board will substantially strengthen CFI's capacity in this arena," said CFI's Board Chairman Anthony J. Corrado, a professor of political science at Colby College.

The Trustees of the Campaign Finance Institute (CFI) are pleased to announce the selection of Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell as co-chair of its Board of Trustees. A CFI trustee since 2001, Mr. Blackwell shares this position with continuing co-chair, Anthony J. Corrado, professor of Government at Colby College.

On June 16, 2000, CFI held an inaugural event introducing the organization. Michael Malbin, Executive Director, Anthony Corrado, co-chair of the Board of Trustees, and Trevor Potter, co-chair of the Board of Trustees, all participated.